An Excerpt From...

The Adventurer's Wife by
Anne Herries

October 1586

"You may rely on me," said Sir Nicholas Grantly to the man with whom he was sharing a flask of good French wine in his parlour. "Should Lady Hamilton find herself in need of assis-tance while you are in the north I shall be pleased to help in any way I may."

Sir Christopher Hamilton was some fifteen years younger than his neighbour, a tall man, powerfully built, with the look of an adventurer about him from his years at sea in the fleet of ships commanded by the great Sir Francis Drake. His skin had a slightly bronzed appearance, his mouth, harsh in repose, could be merry when he smiled, yet it was his eyes that some-times gave him away as a man of strong passions, for they could be as stormy as the Atlantic Sea. At the moment, however, they were soft and smiling.

"I knew I might rely on you, sir. You and Lady Grantly have been good friends to my mother these past years, and I believe I may speak plainly?"

"Of course. Something troubles you, Kit?' "As you know, I have spent the past five years sailing in Drake's fleet, and we have dealt the Spanish a bloody nose or two; a dangerous business but one that has brought both wealth and honours. The knighthood Her Majesty was pleased to bestow on me for services rendered, and the introduction to Sir Francis Walsingham, which you yourself effected, ' He paused, as if not quite sure how to proceed for the moment.

Nick nodded, understanding instantly. Having worked secretly for Walsingham in the past, he was instinctively alert as he guessed much that his friend might not say. "Tell me only as much as you feel right, Kit. I am aware that sometimes it is unwise to speak too openly of these things."

Kit nodded, his eyes darkening in thought. "While my father lived I did not need to concern myself overly with the estate, but his death has left my mother in some part vul-nerable. Neither Edward nor Jack are old enough to help her much, and indeed are sad scamps more likely to cause her worry than ease it. I think my late father's steward an honest fellow and I trust him, but I am uneasy, "

"You need say no more. I shall ride over from time to time to see all is well. How long do you expect to be away?"

"I am not certain."

Kit hesitated, unsure of how much he ought properly to confide in his friend and neighbour. He trusted Sir Nicholas as much as any man he knew, but Sir Francis had insisted that their interview remain a secret.

"For it seems that I find a new plot against Her Majesty at every turn,'Walsingham had told him. "And I believe that the girl's father may in some way be involved in a devious plan to rescue Mary of Scots and set her upon the English throne even now. With the discovery of the Babington conspiracy I have proved that Mary did indeed put her seal of approval on that devilish plot; she has been tried and found guilty of treason, and yet the Queen will not sign the death warrant, plead as I might for her to make an end to it."

Kit had realised he was being asked to spy upon the girl who lived with his mother's kinsmen as their ward. She had been sent to them as a child of a few years as a surety for her father's good behaviour, and Kit knew that Beth Makepeace had come to love her as a daughter. For himself, he had seen the girl only once on a long ago visit to Drodney with his parents, and could hardly remember her--and yet it went against the grain to be asked to spy on someone who was almost family.

"You are to visit Mistress Makepeace at the castle of Drodney, I believe?" Nick asked, as Kit remained silent, ap-parently lost in thought.